Are you struggling with the recent and tragic loss of a family member after a fatal accident in Richmond Heights, Missouri? You do not have to navigate this difficult time in your life on your own. Call Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers. Our compassionate and experienced Richmond Heights wrongful death lawyers can help you take action and demand compensation from those responsible for your loss.
When you turn to Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for help during this trying time, you put a team of award-winning, nationally recognized Missouri trial attorneys in your corner. We’ve won over $70 million on behalf of our clients, including some of the top settlements and jury verdicts in the state.
Call our law office at (314) 207-4399 serving Richmond Heights, MO for help today. Your initial case evaluation is 100 percent free.
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How Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Family After a Fatal Accident in Richmond Heights, MO
Whether you’ve lost a spouse, a child, or a parent, your life has understandably been turned upside-down by a tragic accident. While money will not bring them back to you, it can help to provide a sense of closure and justice. It can also relieve some of the financial burdens you’ll experience in the wake of your loss.
However, getting compensation can be tough, especially when you’re challenging a powerful insurance company, hospital, or corporation to do the right thing.
Let our experienced Richmond Heights personal injury lawyers help you make the most of your wrongful death lawsuit.
We’re highly regarded Missouri litigators with a reputation for going above and beyond to get our clients top results. We won’t stop until you’ve been properly compensated by those responsible for your family member’s death.
Count on us to:
- Handle every aspect of your wrongful death case so that you have the opportunity to grieve and figure out a path forward
- Perform an independent investigation into the underlying causes and circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death
- Carefully evaluate evidence secured through the discovery process, including medical records, accident reports, and witness statements
- Identify all potentially liable parties and work to hold them all personally accountable for your damages
- Aggressively pursue a top-dollar settlement during negotiations with defendants and their insurance companies
- Help you reject unreasonably low settlement offers and have a respected trial attorney bring your case to a jury in St. Louis County, if necessary
When you choose Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, you won’t have to worry about the cost of asking for help. You’ll benefit from our top-tier legal services for no upfront or out-of-pocket expense. Our wrongful death attorneys in Richmond Heights will only get paid if we win your case.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our law office serving Richmond Heights, MO to learn more. We’re always here to schedule a free case assessment – 24/7/365.
Decades of Experience Handling All Types of Wrongful Death Cases in Missouri
At Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have 30+ years of experience advocating for families in wrongful death cases involving:
- Truck accidents
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Train accidents
- Bus accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Assault
- Negligent security
- Premises liability
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Product liability
- Nursing home abuse
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injury
- Catastrophic injury
- Boating accidents
You deserve to have an experienced team advocating for you after a fatal accident in Richmond Heights. Put Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers’ experience and reputation on your side. Give us a call to get started today.
How Does Missouri Define Wrongful Death?
Missouri’s wrongful death statute is found in Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080. Wrongful death is defined as a death that results from “ any act, conduct, occurrence, transaction, or circumstance,” which, if the death hadn’t occurred, would have given the victim the right to pursue damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Typically, wrongful death is the result of a person or company’s negligence or intentionally harmful actions.
Under Missouri’s wrongful death law, the right to file a lawsuit shifts from the decedent (accident victim) to surviving family member(s).
Who Has the Right to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Richmond Heights, MO?
Not just anyone has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit after a fatal accident in Richmond Heights, Missouri.
State law provides that this opportunity is reserved for the decedent’s surviving:
- Spouse
- Parent(s), and/or
- Child(ren).
If none of these family members survive the victim, the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit can belong to the victim’s sibling or sibling’s descendants (e.g., niece or nephew).
If the decedent has no surviving family members, the court can appoint a representative to pursue damages on behalf of other surviving beneficiaries and/or the victim’s estate.
What Types of Compensation Can Be Awarded in a Richmond Heights Wrongful Death Case?
First, it’s important to acknowledge that wrongful death lawsuits exist to compensate surviving family members for their losses after the death of a loved one. So, the types of damages that can be awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit are specifically designed with that intent in mind.
In Missouri, plaintiffs in a wrongful death action can be awarded compensation for economic and non-economic damages relating to:
- Costs of a funeral and burial
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages the decedent would have earned if they survived
- The reasonable value of household services the decedent would have provided
- Loss of consortium, companionship, instruction, guidance, training, and comfort
Missouri courts have also held that damages for the victim’s pain and suffering can be awarded in a wrongful death action. However, the victim must have survived their fatal injuries for some period of time for this rule to apply.
What’s My Richmond Heights Wrongful Death Case Worth?
There is no standard settlement or average payout in Missouri wrongful death cases. Rather, the unique factors and circumstances of each individual case are what drive valuation.
These questions will be instrumental in calculating what your wrongful death case might be worth:
- How old was the decedent at the time of their wrongful death?
- What was the decedent’s life expectancy prior to their fatal accident?
- What was the decedent’s earning capacity at the time of their death?
- Did the decedent’s negligence contribute to their fatal accident?
- Did the decedent survive their injuries prior to death? If so, for how long?
- Was the decedent injured in a work-related accident?
- How close were the decedent and their surviving family members?
Our wrongful death attorneys in Richmond Heights will collaborate with trusted financial experts and specialists as we work to value your case. With their guidance and input, we can more fully appreciate the financial impact of your loved one’s death on your family. The more information we have to work with – and the more we understand the impact of your loss – the better positioned we’ll be to leverage a life-changing financial award on your behalf.
My Family Member is Getting Blamed For Their Fatal Accident. Can It Affect My Wrongful Death Settlement in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri’s pure comparative negligence rule will apply to wrongful death cases in Richmond Heights. Under the state’s law, anyone who contributes to an accident shares responsibility for resulting damages.
This includes accident victims.
Just like your loved one’s right to pursue compensation shifts to you after their death, so does their liability.
Let’s say your spouse is killed in a car accident in Richmond Heights. They’re assigned 10 percent of the blame for the fatal crash. Your wrongful death case is valued at $500,000. Once your spouse’s shared fault is taken into consideration, the maximum financial payout you can receive will be $450,000.
Don’t be surprised if a negligent party or insurance company tries to blame your family member for their untimely death. Instead, be ready to fight back. With our Richmond Heights wrongful death attorneys on your side, you won’t have to worry about unsubstantiated claims of shared fault. We’ll defend your loved one’s good name and reputation at every turn, working hard to protect your financial payout.
What is the Statute of Limitations For Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Missouri?
In Missouri, a three-year statute of limitations applies to wrongful death lawsuits.
Time does not start to run until the date of your loved one’s wrongful death.
Once the statute of limitations expires, you will forfeit the opportunity to demand the financial accountability you and your family deserve.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted Richmond Heights Wrongful Death Lawyer
Call Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (314) 207-4399 if you’ve recently suffered the sudden and unexpected death of a family member in a Richmond Heights accident.
Our Richmond Heights wrongful death lawyers can help you demand accountability from anyone who contributed to your tragic loss.
We offer a free case evaluation, so reach out to our team in Richmond Heights, MO to get started today.
